Two-way tiltable x-ray table



Oct. 19, 1954 K. LOWITZSCH 2,692,173

TWO'WAY TILTABLE X-RAY TABLE Filed June 17, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. KURTIOMZZSCH AGENI Patented Oct. 19, 1954 TWO-WAY TILTABLE. X-RAY TABLE Kurt Lcwitzsch, Yonkers, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to North American Philips Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 17, 1952, Serial No. 288,390

6 Claims.

This invention relates to X-ray diagnostic tables. More particularly, the invention relates to tables for fluoroscopic examination and for making radiographs of the human body in prone, upright or intermediate positions.

X-ray diagnostic tables are often required not only to support a patient in either a prone or an upright position, but, for certain diagnoses, to be rotatable from one vertical position 180 to the opposite vertical position.

The present invention relates to a novel form of table structure which complies with the foregoing requirements. Briefiy, the table comprises rotatable means for rotating the frame structure about a single fixed pivot point and translating means for moving the frame structure relative to the pivot point while it is being rotated.

In a preferred embodiment, the table is constituted by a frame structure slideably mounted on a pair of oppositely disposed relatively large gear segments which are free to rotate about a fixed shaft. The frame structure is provided on its under side with a pair of oppositely disposed gear racks in engagement, respectively, with a pair of pinions which are free to rotate about the same shaft as the gear segments. As the gear segments are rotated by suitable driving means to cause the table structure to tilt about the common shaft, the pinions are simultaneously driven by the same driving means to cause the table structure to shift transversely to the shaft. Such an arrangement, besides being relatively cheap and simple to manufacture, has the following additional advantages. The table is capable of being easily rotated from one vertical position completely around a 180 arc to the opposite vertical position. Furthermore, the space beneath the table is completely free of any part of the mechanical apparatus necessary to rotate the table; consequently, the space may be utilized for an X-ray tube and its associated apparatus as is done in conventional tables of the same type. In addition, a relatively low, long table is obtainable since, in accordance With the invention, the table is laterally shifted while it is being rotated so that the table just clears the floor as it is rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a table in a horizontal position in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, in cross-section, along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of the table at a 45 position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of the table in a vertical position.

Figs. 1 and 2 show one form of X-ray diagnostic table according to the invention comprising a pair of base members I supporting a frame structure 2 which carries a table top 3. The frame 2 is slideably supported and guided on opposite sides thereof by two pairs of bearings 5 which are aflixed, respectively, to opposite sides of a pair of relatively large gear segments 6. The gear segments 5 are rotatably mounted, respectively, on a pair of horizontally disposed shafts I which are aflixed, respectively, to the base members I.

A pair of downwardly facing gear racks 4 are provided on opposite sides of the bottom side of the frame 2. A pair of gears 8, in engagement, respectively, with each of the gear racks 4, are rotatably supported on the same shaft 1 on which the gear segments 6 are mounted. A pair of sprockets 9 having diameters equal to or smaller than those of the gears 9 are secured, respectively, to each of the gears 8 for rotation therewith and are also rotatably mounted on the shafts "l'. A single motor I0 is operatively connected to both the gears 8 and the gear segments 6 by means of a pair of pinions H and a pair of sprockets 12 which are keyed, respectively, on the drive shaft of the motor Ill. The pinions I l are directly in engagement with the gear segments 6 and the sprockets l2 drive the sprockets 9 and the gears 8 through chain drives 13.

Tilting of the table top 3 is obtained in the following manner: Rotation of the gear segments 6 causes the table top 3 to pivot about the shafts T. In order to prevent the edge of the table from striking the floor, the frame 2 must be shifted in a direction opposite to the direction in which it is being tilted. This is accomplished by rotating the gears B in the proper direction to slide the frame 2 along the bearings 5. Both motions are performed simultaneously.

Fig. 3 shows the table after it has been tilted about 45 to the right from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1. In this case, the motor [0 was driven in a counterclockwise direction causing the pinions II and the sprockets l2 to rotate also in a counterclockwise direction. The rotation of the pinions It causes the gear segments 6 to be rotated in a clockwise direction tilting the table toward the right side. Simultaneously, the rotation of the sprockets l2 rotates the sprockets 9 and the gears 8 in a counterclockwise direction which causes the racks 4 and the frame 2 to which they are secured to shift transversely to the shaft 1 to the left in 3 order that the right end of the frame 2 does no strike the floor.

Fig. 4 shows the table of Fig. 3 in a vertical position after complete tilting to the right. It can be noted that the frame 2 Was shifted transversely to the shafts i so that the edge of the frame just clears the floor. This, of course, can be easily arranged by suitable choice of the diameter of the gears 8 and the number of teeth. The opposite direction of tilting is obtained by reversing the direction of rotation of the motor.

To obtain a predetermined rate of tilting, a conventional transmission system (not shown) may be arranged between the motor [9 and the sprockets l2 and gears II. This transmission system is preferably constituted by a self-locking gear reduction drive in order that the weight of the table will not cause undesirable rotation of the motor.

While I have thus described my invention with specific examples and embodiments thereof, other modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A two-Way tiltable X-ray table comprising a base, a frame structure carried by said base, a table top supported by said frame structure, means for rotating said frame structure about a single stationary axis on said base from one vertical position of said table top to the opposite vertical position, and means coacting with said rotating means to simultaneously effect translation of said frame structure relative to said stationary axis to enable said table top to clear the floor.

2. A two-way tiltable X-ray table comprising a base, a frame structure, a supporting member rotatably mounted on said base and slideably supporting said frame structure, a table top supported by said frame structure, means for rotating said supporting member about a single stationary axis on said base from one vertical position of said table top to the opposite vertical position, and means coacting with said rotating means to simultaneously effect translation of said frame structure relative to said stationary axis to enable said table top to clear the floor.

3. A two-way tiltable X-ray table comprising a base, a frame structure, a vertically-disposed supporting member rotatably mounted on said base for rotation in a vertical plane and slideably supporting said frame structure, a table top supported by said frame structure, means for rotating said supporting member about a single stationary axis on said base from one vertical position of said table top to the opposite vertical position, and means coacting with said rotating means to simultaneously effect translation of said frame structure relative to said stationary axis to enable said table top to clear the floor.

4. A two-way tiltable X-ray table comprising a base, a frame structure, a supporting member rotatably mounted on said base for rotation in a vertical plane and slideably supporting said frame structure, a table top supported by said frame structure, a source of power, means operatively connected to said source for rotating said supporting member about a single stationary axis on said base from one vertical position of the table top to the opposite vertical position, and means operatively connected to said source to simultaneously effect translation of said frame structure relative to said stationary axis to enable said table top to clear the floor.

5. A two-way tiltable X-ray table comprising a base, a frame structure, a vertically disposed gear segment rotatably mounted on said base and slideably supporting said frame structure, a table top supported by said frame structure, a gear rack mounted on said frame structure, means for rotating said gear segment about a single stationary axis on said base from one vertical position of the table top to the opposite vertical position, and means operatively connected to said gear rack and coacting with said rotating means to simultaneously effect translation of said frame structure relative to said stationary axis to enable said table top to clear the floor.

6. A two-way tiltable X-ray table comprising a base, a frame structure, a shaft fixedly secured in said base, a gear segment rotatably mounted on said shaft and slideably supporting said frame structure, a table top supported by said frame structure, a gear rack affixed to said frame structure, a pinion rotatably mounted on said shaft and in engagement with said rack, driving means for rotating said gear segment about said fixed shaft in one direction from one vertical position of the table top to the opposite vertical position and for simultaneously rotating said pinion in the opposite direction to effect translation of said frame structure relative to said fixed shaft to enable said table top to clear the floor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 953,719 Skripec Apr. 5, 1910 2,103,693 Pohl Dec. 28, 1937 2,120,732 Camper et al. June 14, 1938 2,222,888 Haupt NOV. 26, 1940 2,534,623 Pitts et al. Dec. 19, 1950 2,568,236 Kizaur Sept. 18, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 282,280 Germany Feb. 22, 1915 

